Upper Campus

Our Curriculum

Our students build their own schedules based on what they want to study and what they need to graduate. They select from the following “building blocks.” We enact these goals by creating a program with two distinct parts:

(1) Teacher led TIC classes
(Thematically Integrated Curriculum) are teacher directed and student
centered. This is an academic classroom portion of the curriculum where
students gain knowledge and expertise in the core subjects (language
arts, art, mathematics, social science, science).

(2) Seminar Workshops allow
students the opportunity to work with a community expert to create a
final project on a variety of subjects (e.g. music production,
electronics, painting, cooking, fitness, yoga, mediation, wellness, PE
and video production).

(3) Project-Based Learning (PBL) is
an inquiry-based learning process in which students design, plan,
investigate, research and present their own projects in response to an
essential question, problem, or challenge (e.g., student-designed
creative, inquiry, or acquisition projects; or teacher-written,
independent study projects). Rigorous
projects are carefully planned, managed, and assessed to help students
create high-quality, authentic products & presentations.

Additional Parts of the MG21 program:

Study Tours
occur twice per year for one week where we take the classroom “on the
road.” Each study tour is built around a central idea. Past study
tours have focused on Architecture, Art, Criminal Justice, Making and
Creating Stuff, Nature, Sports & Wellness, Science &
Engineering.

Morning meeting/Advisory begins our day.

Daily Math- Students work on math daily using the specific ALEKS math class that best meets their needs.

Independent Reading students spend time reading books of their choice.

Town Hall Meeting.:

These components of our curriculum are
integral in creating a sense of value, meaning and community. All
students need to feel a sense of belonging at school and believe they
can be successful here. Students want to feel smart; they want to learn;
they want hope. Ultimately, MG21 must become an educational community
that allows this to flourish. 21st Century Skills guide the entire program. The overall goal is to tie the student’s path and education to their ability to master the 21st
century skills of collaboration, communication, curiosity, commitment
critical thinking and problem solving via TIC and PBL. Technology
(computers, educational software etc.) is essential to delivering,
monitoring and creating a meaningful program, which insures students
develop the necessary skills to be successful in the world.

Community: Students best
succeed when they are part of a meaningful educational community, thus
allowing them to take ownership of their education and their school. The
charter school’s success is based on its ability to develop meaningful
relationships: teacher to student and student to student. These
relationships are at the heart of our educational community, are
integral to our students’ success, and are critical in creating a school
climate where students feel free to explore and engage and develop a
moral obligation to one another.

Senior Capstone Project: Some
of you have a rather clear vision of where your path may lead, so your
capstone project should equip you with skills and experiences to take
the next step. Others are less sure about how you will spend the next
five or ten years of your life, but your capstone project should still
be a “life-enhancing” experience that reinforces and strengthens your
personal values and interests. As an MG21 student, you have taken
charge of your education by completing projects and participating in
seminars you have chosen. This project should function as a capstone
in the educational architecture you have built. As always, you have a
myriad of choices but the responsibility is yours to create a project
that is meaningful, challenging and fun!

Career Project Focus: Students
who complete this project will gain volunteer and/or internship
experience in the field of study the student intends to pursue after
high school. If you are interested in auto-mechanics, you might intern
or work at a local auto shop. If you want to become a nursing
assistant, you might take a CNA course and/or volunteer at a local
hospital. A blossoming artist may contact a local artist and work in an
art studio or teach art to children. No matter what career path you are
selecting for the project, your first steps will involve identifying
and contacting a mentor in your field of study who can talk to you about
the career and suggest volunteer/internship options. During the
project, be sure to collect photos, video and/or written records
documenting your experience.

Service-Oriented Project Focus: Students
choosing this project focus will devote 15-20 hours on a community
service project. If you know that you enjoy helping others and striving
to improve your community, this project focus could be valuable.
Options range from volunteering at a local food shelter, reading to
children at an elementary school, to creating public art to make a local
neighborhood more beautiful. You will still identify a mentor who will
provide you with guidance on how become involved in service and
maximize the impact you have on your community. During the project, be
sure to collect photos, video and/or written records documenting your
experience.

Self-Exploration and Self-Development Project Focus:This
project focus might be nicknamed the “bucket list” or “Into the Wild”
project option. Students choosing this project will challenge
themselves to achieve something they have never done before, and in the
process they will acquire new skills and learn a lot about who they
are. You might plan a three day hiking/camping trip in Michigan,
organize a scuba adventure, or bike to Green Bay and back. If you
choose this option, you need a mentor who has accomplished your goal (or
a similar goal) and you need to spend time training for your feat.
With the help of the mentor, you will plan and prepare for the
endeavor. During the project, be sure to collect photos, video and/or
written records documenting your experience.